Posts tagged “summer”

At Fuel we are all about injecting flavor into healthy foods and taking the enjoyment of eating clean to another level. Fresh ingredients and homemade food is a huge part of our philosophy so I thought I would give you some ideas on how to make familiar summer condiments healthier and even more full of flavor. Most people associate summer BBQ season with the standard adornments such as ketchup, mustard, and relish but these are often highly processed and loaded with refined sugars and preservatives. I know most people don’t consider making homemade versions of these toppings but it is really super simple, in the end you will have something much healthier and the taste will outshine any bottled condiment lingering in your refrigerator I promise!

Let’s start with ketchup, probably the most popular all around condiment out there. Unless you are buying an all-natural, organic type ketchup most conventional brands contain a whack of refined sugar and less than wholesome ingredients, take a look at the ingredient label and you will see what I am talking about.

Have you ever wondered how natural flavor can be considered an ingredient…hmmmm?

According to Code of Federal Regulations natural flavoring is defined as:

“the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.“….In other words, natural flavors can be pretty much anything approved for use in foods.

Even more reason to make easy and delicious homemade ketchup…you will never turn back!! We often serve a variation of this with our amazing turkey burger. Here is a super simple ketchup recipe that doesn’t even require turning on the stove

Ingredients:

1 cup sun dried tomatoes

1 cup fresh tomatoes, any kind will do but grape tomatoes add a nice sweet flavour

Soak dates and sun dried tomatoes in enough warm water to cover for about 20 minutes, then drain soak water.

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth, how easy is that!!

Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Mustard is my favorite condiment because is it so versatile, pungent in flavour, and has many health benefits. Amazing on its own or as an addition to dressings, marinades, and dips mustard is a must have in my pantry. Conventional mustard is not the worst offender in terms of unhealthy ingredients and there are many great natural brands that I use quite often, but there is just something about making it from scratch and putting your own twist on it. This is a simple basic recipe but you could add all types of additional flavors, how about fresh tarragon, dill, or rosemary….yum!!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup brown or yellow mustard seeds (the brown seeds have more of a kick!)

2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tbsp. white pepper, ground

1 tsp. tumeric, ground

1/4 filtered water, or just enough to achieve desired consistency

Preparation:

Gently crush mustard seeds with a mortar and pestle, this will result in a ‘grainy’ type mustard. If you prefer a ‘smoother’ consistency grind mustard seeds in a coffee or spice grinder.

Add all ingredients except water to a blender and blend to combine.

Add water slowly until desired consistency is achieved.

Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator up to 2 months.

Conventional relish is another one of those sneaky purveyors of refined sugar which most of you are hopefully trying to avoid. Relish also contains artificial colors, unless you are eating kale relish that vibrant green color which so beautifully compliments your BBQ favorites is very far removed from anything natural.

Have you ever looked at the ingredient list of the most popular brands of prepared relish? You might find items like high fructose corn syrup, refined salt, colors such as yellow no. 5 (also known as tartrazine) and blue no. 1, natural flavor (yes it rears its ugly head again!), and preservatives such as polysorbate 80

Ditch that unhealthy stuff and try your hand at making a fresh relish, another great recipe that has endless possibilities for adding your own personal flare. While I admit this one takes more prep time than the first two recipes due to all the chopping, it is definitely worth it! A simple trick to avoid the chopping is to do a rough chop of the first four ingredients and then pulse in a food processor with the remaining ingredients…so easy!

I can say with a high degree of certainty that summer is here with a vengeance, all that stuff about global warming yeah well I am starting to take it seriously now!! As Canadians we often spend the winter months dreaming of the long gone days of summer, basking in the sun’s rays playing outside and getting a little more active. Spring always seems to tease us with a taste of summer and the dance with winter’s fight to hang on just a little longer. Once Canada Day hits there’s usually no question, summer is officially here. Like bears coming out of hibernation Canadians around the country are eager to get out and enjoy the weather, get into their outdoor exercise routine, and drop those extra pounds.

Staying hydrated while exercising is always important to prevent fatigue, maintain or improve performance, and make the most of your workouts however, the importance of hydration in hot humid weather is even more crucial. When the body engages in physical activity heat is generated internally, this is how we burn calories, and in order to maintain the body’s delicate internal balance it has to rid itself of this extra heat which is why we sweat. Sweat has two main purposes, it allows the body to detoxify through the skin and it is the body’s automatic air conditioning system. The amount we sweat depends on a number of factors, a few of which include the intensity of exercise, how hydrated the body is, and the key one here is the temperature of the surroundings. The hotter and more humid the outdoor conditions the more we need to sweat to cool ourselves down. If our internal air conditioner is working over time and we are not replenishing fluids to keep it going dehydration is a consequence which can have mild to very serious side effects. The average person loses 1L of sweat for every hour of exercise, and that is in regular conditions, so the message here is replenish, replenish, replenish!

Now that we understand why we need to hydrate let’s discuss the most effective ways to prevent dehydration and ensure our bodies are equipped to enjoy the hazy days of summer. Of course the best way to keep the body hydrated is to make sure you are drinking throughout the day. The most effective way to do this is to drink pure, clean water as your main source of fluids. When planning exercise outdoors or spending extended periods of time in the heat be sure to consume 1/2-1 L of extra fluid beforehand to compensate. While exercising also make sure to drink fluids, preferably a natural electrolyte or sport water drink, at regular intervals. When we sweat the body also loses electrolytes, mineral salts dissolved in body fluids that regulate fluid balance, therefore it is important to replace these as well. After exercise or extended periods in humid weather replenish fluids throughout the rest of the day at regular intervals to maintain hydration status for future activity.

Here are some of my favorite ways to hydrate the body naturally, tasty ways to beat the heat and keep your body at peak performance. When buying bottled ‘nutrient waters’ avoid at all costs drinks which are filled with refined sugars, artificial colors (water should never be fluorescent blue or green yikes!!), artificial flavors and sweeteners. Opt for the natural choices below.

Coconut Water – contains naturally occuring electrolytes, and its delicious too! Look for unsweetened organic varieties, the only ingredient should be coconut water.

GP8 Water – naturally purified water that contains 3-4 times the oxygen of regular water, this allows the body to maintain hydration status.

Vega Rehydrator – a natural, alkaline-forming drink mix, free from sugar and artificial sweeteners, formulated with all the essential electrolytes the body needs to stay hydrated during workouts.

Or try making your own!

DIY Electrolyte Drink Recipe

1 cup filtered water

1-2 tablespoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 pinch of sea salt (do not use table salt)

1/2 tablespoon of raw honey

At Fuel we encourage getting a little more active and soaking up some vitamin D when the sun is shining, just remember to always use common sense when exercising in hot humid weather. If the humidex rating is above 35 avoid strenuous activity, save these days for sipping your lemonade pool side. Know the signs of dehydration which include nausea and fatigue in mild cases, vomiting and cessation of sweating in severe cases, this is very serious and requires immediate medical attention. Know your limits, hydrate your body, and enjoy these long awaited days of summer.